Fluid applicator for printing ribbons



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@est 9, 1934. A. D. isi-Ww FLUID APPLICATOR FOR PRINTING RIBBONS Filed June 30. 1932 Il l.

lNvENToR Patented Oct. 9, 1934l- Umts stars miam FLUID APPLICATOE FOR PRINTING BIBBONS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for restoring or renewing typewriter and like ribbons so that their service life may be materially extended.

General objects of the invention are to prol vide a device of this class having generally improved structural features, which is adapted to apply a moistener or solvent to a ribbon with enhanced evenness and uniformity.

More specifically, the invention has for its objects the provision of a. solvent applicator for ribbons which possesses sturdiness and simplicity of construction, is compact and free from bulkiness, may be conveniently manipulated and applied even to comparatively inaccessible ribbons, is subject to easy and inexpensive manufacture, and which has an improved design assuring even distribution of solvent across the entire width of a ribbon during the solvent applying operation.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comp-rises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will belindicated in the claims.y

For a fuller understanding of the Vnature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side View showing an applicator embodying features of the present invention with its clamping jaws shown in closed position embracing a ribbon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the applicator shown in Fig. 1, but showing the clamping jaws in open position; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The present device is adapted to extend the useful life of inking or printing ribbons of the kind used in typewriters, calculating machines, and other similar printing devices. These ribbons originally are impregnated or loaded with ink, which, after a period of use, dries out and causes faulty indistinct printing. This drying occurs before the entire supply of ink with which the ribbon is impregnated is used, and an application of a suitable ink solvent to such a dried ribbon will enable it to be used for acontinued period. This solvent applying renewing operation may be repeated from time to time so as greatly to lengthen the service life of a ribbon. It is quite difficult successfully and conveniently the pad receptacle.

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to apply solvent to theseribbons in an even and uniform manner and in the nicely determined quantity required to assure clear unblurred printing impressions. The present device meets these problems in an improved manner.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and especially to Fig. 1, there is shown an applicator comprising a hollow tubular handle or reservoir 10 provided at its outer end with a removable cap 11 which is adapted to be suitably placed thereover. The handle 10 preferably has a normally oblique position, and has at its lower end a normally Vertical jaw member 12 which is adapted to form a receptacle for a solvent applying pad. As illustrated, this lower jaw member comprises a bottom wall 13 to which handle 10 is suitably attached and with which it is in communication by virtue of' a registered aperture 14. Extending vertically with respect to bottom wall 13 are a' plurality of side walls. These include lateral walls 15 and 16, an end wall 17, and an intermediate wall 18, which cooperate to form a box-like receptacle for holding the aforementioned solvent pad. f

The solvent pad is designated 19 and comprises a thin rectangular sheet or block oi rather closely matted felt. This pad preferably is about le of an inch in thickness and is dimensioned snugly to fit within lateral walls 15 and 16 and the walls 17 and 18. This pad rests upon and is supported by a perforate pad support 20 having its sides downwardly bent to form sup-porting flanges 21 and 22 (Fig. 3). This pad support preferably is formed of wire mesh material, although if desired other suitable means such as a perforate metallic plate may be employed. The supporting flanges 21 and 22 rest upon bottom wall 13 and engage snugly and firmly against lateral walls 15 and 16 and are of such a height that pad 19 is held with its ribbon engaging surface 23 substantially flush with or only slightly elevated above the upper edges of walls 15 and 16. Beneath pad support 20 is a fibrous body 24, the bers of which preferably are relatively loose as compared with the more compactly matted pad 19. This body 24 preferably may take the form of a wad of cotton batting cut to size to fit snugly within The reservoir 10 contains an additional mass of loose fibrous material 25, such as absorbent cotton, which is in contact with body 24 at the aperture 14.

Improved means are provided for pressing a typewriter ribbon against the applicator face 23 of the solvent applying pad. This means comprises a fiat upper jaw 26 having at its upper end upstanding flanges 27 and 28. A pair of opposed links 29 and 30 respectively have one end pivoted to these flanges and each has its other end respectively pivoted to side walls 15 and 16. These side links are located intermediate the ends of the upper and lower jaws. At the extreme upper end of these jaws is a lever 31 provided at its sides with upstanding link elements 32 and 33. Link element 32 has its ends respectively pivoted to side wall 15 and to jaw flange 27, while link element 30 is similarly pivoted to side wall 16 and jaw flange 28, these pivoted connections being effected by transverse connecting pins 34 and 35. Lever 31 is provided with an extension as at 36 which is adapted to be manipulated by the operators iinger to move the lever about is pivot 34. The several side link members are parallel so that oscillation of lever 3l causes the upper jaw 26 to move toward and from the pad face 23 in parallel relation thereto at all times. Spring means are provided for normally urging the parallel jaws into the closed position shown in Fig. 1, and this means may conveniently comprise a coil spring 37 threaded over pivot pin 35 and having its opposite ends respectively bearing against lever 31 and jaw 26 as illustrated (Fig. 2).

In operation, a supply of ink solvent is loaded in receptacle 10 impregnating the fibrous mass 25 located therein. This solvent is communicated through aperture 14 to body 24, and is distributed thence through the perforate support 20 to the pad 19, which pad it penetrates so as to moisten the applicator surface 23. The device, thus loaded, is conveniently grasped by its handle 10 and extension 36 is depressed so as to open jaws 12 and 26 which may then be readily positioned over an inking ribbon designated 38. Upon release of lever 31, spring 37 urges jaw 26 in clamp- 'ing relation against the ribbon 38 and presses it against the applicator surface 23. By virtue of the parallel relationship of` the applicator jaws, both the upper and lower portions of theribbon are firmly and evenly pressed against the flat pad surface, and this despite variations in ribbon thickness. This helps assure an even distribution of solvent across the entire width of the ribbon, as distinguished from the best previously available devices of this nature, which frequently have shown a tendency to apply solvent in preponderant quantities against the upper part only of the treated ribbon. In the illustrated device the communicating aperture 14 between the reservoir 10 and the pad receptacle is located substantially centrally of the pad 19, approximately opposite the ribbon 38, whereby an even distribution of fluid through the ribbon contactingr portion of the pad is assured. With the ribbon thus evenly clamped against the applicator, its entire length is fed between the jaws of the applicator and an even and uniform application of ink solvent is deposited thereon. Thus treated, the dried ribbon may be subjected to further use.

The ribbon embracing parts of the device, comprising jaws 12 and 26, are thin and compact, and may be easily positioned over even comparatively inaccessible ribbons, without necessitating their removal or undue disarrangement.

It will be seen that there has been provided a device which is admirably suited to fulfill its intended functions.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above Vdescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to seciue by Letters Patent, is:

1. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons, comprising a pad support, a ribbon engaging applicator pad carried by said support, a ribbon engaging jaw parallel with said pad, and means for mounting said jaw on said support foi` movement toward and from said pad, said means including at least two parallel link members of equal lengths spaced lengthwise of said support and each having its ends respectively pivoted to said support and said jaw and being arranged to hold said jaw and pad parallel at all times.

2. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons comprising a pad support, a flat applicator pad carried by said support, a clamping jaw in parallel relationship with said pad and adapted to hold a ribbon thereagainst, a plurality of parallel links of equal lengths spaced lengthwise of said support, each having its opposite ends respectively pivoted to said jaw and said support for affording relative movement therebetween while maintaining said parallel relationship, and spring means normally urging said jaw to approach said pad.

3. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons comprising a pad support, a ribbon engaging applicator pad carried by said support, a ribbon engaging jaw parallel with said pad, a pair of opposed links each having its ends respectively pivoted toV said jaw and support, a second pair of opposed links similarly pivoted to said jaw and support and being spaced from, parallel to, and of equal length with said rst named links, and spring means normally urging said jaw toward said pad.

4. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons comprising a vertical pad receptacle, an applicator pad in said receptacle having an exposed ribbon engaging face, a tubular reservoir extending obliquely upwardly from said receptacle and in communication with said pad, and a constantly vertical ribbon engaging jaw movably mounted on said receptacle opposite said pad face, the mounting for said jaw including a plurality of spaced parallel links of equal lengths each having its ends respectively pivoted to said jaw and receptacle.

5. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons comprising a thin box-like pad receptacle having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls, a perforate pad support, having inwardly extending anges resting against said bottom wall, an applicator pad seated on said support and snugly positioned between said side walls, means .for introducing solvent beneath said support, and a spring pressed jaw movably mounted on said receptacle for holding a ribbon against said pad.

6. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons comprising a box-like receptacle having a normally vertical bottom wall and relatively upstanding side walls, a perforate pad support spaced above and having inwardly extending flanges resting on said bottom wall, an applicator pad resting upon said support and having an exposed ribbon engaging face substantially Ill) flush with the outer edges of said side walls, a fibrous body between said bottom wall and said support, a hollow tubular reservoir extending from said bottom wall and having its interior in communication with said brous body, and means for pressing a ribbon against said exposed applicator pad face, said reservoir communication being located in substantial registry with the ribbon contacting portion of said applicator.

'7. A solvent applicator for printing ribbons comprising a thin, box-like receptacle having an apertured elongate normally Vertical bottom wall and upstanding side walls, a perforate pad support spaced above said bottom wall and having inwardly extending side ilanges seated thereon,

an applicator pad resting upon said support and having an exposed ribbon engaging face ap- 

